Men's Group
In reply to the discussion: A number of my issues with the brand of Feminism on DU [View all]nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)Patriarchy (or whatever you want to call it) is just as bad for men, in many ways, as it is for women. All the more reason to pass the ERA, and if it leads to the dismantling of whatever laws have supposedly "favored" women, then so be it. I still think it would be a net gain for both genders in the long run.
I guess maybe I'm taking a longer historical view, where women were explicitly denied the vote (and many other rights of citizenship) as women, whereas men, historically, were not disenfranchised on the basis of gender - race, class, etc. being a different story obviously. Much like with racism, the laws have changed, but ingrained cultural attitudes lag behind. And the disproportionate influence of Evangelical Christianity on contemporary American politics certainly doesn't help, with the idea of men having authority over women and women's bodies still being appallingly widespread in many parts of the country.
But no, two wrongs do not make a right, and I tend to think Rostker v. Golberg was dead wrong. The Selective Service should be abolished entirely IMO, but if not, it should be expanded to include women.